Creamline outlasts Cignal in 5-set classic, books qualifying spot

March 23 ------ THIRD time proved lucky for Creamline. The Cool Smashers nailed down the last qualifying round berth in a 25-19, 25-20, 15-25, 26-28, 16-14 cardiac finish over Cignal in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference on Saturday at the Playtime Filoil Center.

In yet another five-set classic between both teams, an ambitious Kyle Negrito drop ball broke a 14-all tie in the fifth set before a Bea de Leon kill block sealed the deal for good. After letting two chances slip against Akari and Farm Fresh, the 10-time champions made sure not to waste their last shot at the top four, and in the process denied the Super Spikers both a reverse sweep and the No. 1 seed.

Creamline climbed to the No. 3 seed, edging out Farm Fresh with its sixth win of the conference, and will face Cignal again for a semifinals berth on Thursday. The result completed the qualifying cast and, at the same time, sent sister teams Nxled and Akari to the second phase of the play-in tournament.

Alyssa Valdez turned back the clock with a vintage triple-double of 23 points, 13 digs and 13 receptions in only her second start this conference. "We really had to work with what we have. 'Yung term natin ngayon is 'perfect effort' dahil wala namang perfect talaga. But 'yung effort, pwede namin ma-perfect and 'yun 'yung nangyari today," said Valdez.

Dij Rodriguez stepped up in a big way, forming an unlikely outside hitter pairing with Alyssa Valdez in the continued absence of Jema Galanza and Bernadeth Pons. The young spiker delivered her first PVL triple-double with 19 points, 17 receptions, and 12 digs. Tots Carlos chipped in 12 points, while Pangs Panaga and Bea de Leon added 11 and nine, respectively, both anchored by four blocks each.

Jia de Guzman orchestrated the offense with 24 excellent sets before an unfortunate fifth-set exit after slipping on a dig attempt. Cignal came out sharp with a quick 5-1 start, but Creamline wasted no time erasing the gap, leveling at 7-all. From there, it was all Cool Smashers as a Tots Carlos block pushed Creamline to set point, before Alyssa Valdez delivered a signature cross-court hit to seal the opening frame.

Creamline carried that momentum into the second, racing to a 4-0 start. The Cool Smashers never let up, steadily widening the gap before Carlos once again brought them to set point, and Pangs Panaga finished it off from the middle for a two-set lead. After dropping the first two sets, Cignal refused to go quietly. Clinging to a 14-13 lead, the Super Spikers unloaded an 11-2 closing run to extend the match to a fourth set, capped by a Gel Cayuna ace and an Erika Santos hit off a shaky Creamline reception.

Creamline already held three match points at 24-21 in the fourth set before Vanie Gandler stormed through in a 4-0 Cignal run where she scored thrice. Despite the Cool Smashers’ best efforts, a one-two punch by Gandler and breakout ace Jewel Encarnacion forced the tiebreak. Back and forth the tiebreak went, but Carlos was the first to break through and reach match point before de Leon hit the nail on the coffin in their hardest-earned rout yet.

Vanie Gandler turned in a sensational triple-double of 26 points, 19 digs, and 15 receptions, while Dawn Catindig anchored the floor with 30 digs and Encarnacion chipped in a clutch 10 points, but all went for naught. Cignal, however, will get another crack at Creamline on Thursday, this time with far higher stakes in the qualifying round.

Source: spin.ph